Process and machine for filling ampoules



Sept. 5, 1933. w; SCHAEFFER PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR FILLING AHPOULES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jam 1411: 1 h

F il ed- 0m. 17, 1930 p 1933- w. SCHAEFFER 2 0 PROCESS AND IACHINE FOR FILLING AIPOULES Filed Oct. 17, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept; 5, 1933. w. SCHAEFFER PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR FILLING AIPOULIS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 17, 1930 Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PROCESS AND monma Fon mum ULES Walter Schaefler, Frankfor t on-the-Main,

Germany Application October 17,

1930, Serial manages,

and in Germany October 16, 1929 11 Claims.

' In the process of filling, sealing and labeling ampoules, such as are chiefly used for pharmaceutical purposes, the different operations have hitherto been carried out partly by the hand,

partly by machines together with manual assistance. A process of mechanically handling and filling great numbers of ampoules with liquid in which nearly all the parts of the work was for.- merly performed by the hand, such as the cutting oil of the necks, the filling, the sterilizing, the closing by melting and the packing up, has been unknown heretofore.

First of all the invention refers to a continuous process, by Which the different ampull'ae are collected on a conveying band and then submitted to the various operations, which areagain effected automatically without the assist nce of the hand. Manual labor is but occasiona ly required for the conveyance from one stage of work to the other.

The new process comprises in individually receiving in a conveying band a number of open ampoules from a receptacle filled with empty, open ampoules and are then jammed in by a second band preparatory to the first operation.

The latter serves to equalize the necks. The conveying band runs through a glass cutting device and. then past a striking contrivance, by which the tops of the necks are cut off, whereupon the bands with thenecks of an equal height are wound up on a drum. For the second operation the wound-up conveying band is placed into a container, which should be well stopped up and be provided with a vacuum conduit and an inlet conduit for the filling liquid. Through the vacuum the ampoules are exhaustedof air, with the subsequent application of an indifferent gas, so that, after the streaming in of the liquid, they will autorizatically fill with a certain quantity under the accurately regulated pressure of the streaming. As the ampoules are hanging with their necks downward, there remains above, at

the bottom of the ampoules, a layer of air or gas, which is then driven out by c'entfrifuging. After this centrifuging, the band roll is placed on a shaft on another working-table, from which the conveying band will be unwound, while the ampoules are automatically closed by melting and are carried away separately to another container. After being collected there, they are taken, together with the container, to a sterilizing contrivance and afterwards automatically conveyed from the said container to another conveying band, on which they are supplied, also mechanically with -inscriptions, labels and the like. At. last the finished ampoules are conveyed by this band to the packing device.

Furthermore, the invention refers to the auto matic contrivances appearing in'the process described above, such as are required for the operat'ion of the various devices. First there are the devices for the collection, the conveyance, the common treatment in great number and the final delivery of the ampoules. In the course oi. this treatment, which may be termed flowing work, v the difierent devices have to be inserted. After their reception by the conveying band, the ampoules come to a cutting device, which cuts all the necks at an equal height, so that they can be struck off by a striking contrivance inserted directly behind the cutting device and moving automatically in accordance with the respective distances of the ampoules. The next device is .a drum or a container, on or in which the conveying band is wound up together-with the ampoules so as to form a compact roll, which will contain about 600 ampoules, according to the size of the ampoules and the handiness of the roll with a view to the further operations.

By thefollowing'operations with the use of such a roll, a great number of ampoules can be simultaneously submitted to the same operation, i. e. to such operations, as, hitherto, could only be efiec'ted with separate ampoules and are new in themselves, as e. g. the centrifuging. process intended 35 to secure agood filling and the evacuating process for emptying the ampoules. 1

First the roll is placed into a vacuum container capable of working with indifferent gas and having, besidethe usual suction piping, a liquid container. connected with it, the liquid which is to be filled into the ampoules with their ,necks suspended downwardly. By emptying and replenishing the containers repeatedly there will be otained a definite, equal filling of the ampoules, which may be closed with some indifferent gas, so that the troublesome and time consuming work of an equable separate filling (pearl filling) is avoided. The rowsof ampoules thus filled are now put into an ordinary centrifugal vessel into which, the plates, rolls, or containers Withthe ampoules are placed in such a position that the necks are directed toward the axis of the centrifugal shaft, 1. e.-that the bottomof each ampoule is directed outwardly, By the centrifuging the atmosphere still'contained in the body of the ampoule is driven into the necks and then out. of the latter, so that now all the ampoules in one roll have a filling of an equal elevation.

till

passing through, and this device is joined with. a contrivance which detaches the ampoules again from the conveying band and takes them to a collecting vessel, which is used for mass sterilizetion in the ordinary way. The said vessel is arranged in such a manner that the ampoules are delivered separately to another conveying band,

on which the inscriptions, labels etc. are fixed automatically on the ampoules.

In the subjoined drawings the separate devices for carrying out the process in accordance with the invention are represented.

Fig. 1 shows a top view of the device for the first working stage serving for the reception of the ampoules to be filled and for the cutting of the ampoule necks in the length required.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the supply device for the empty ampoules.

Fig. 3 is a detail (seen in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1) of the cutting device.

' Fig. 4 the annexed device for striking or breaking 01f the necks.

In Fig. 5 a pieceof strap is shown, which illustrates the way how the different ampoules are received in pouches, while Fig. 6 is the top view corresponding toFig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 show two further eventualities, by way of example, for holding the ampoules in the bearing strap.

The second and the third operations are represented in Figs. 9-14:

Figs. 9 and 10 being the top view and the view of a drum with a filled bearing strap.

Fig. 11 shows a vessel with an inserted and filled drum for evacuating. and filling the ampullae.

Fig. 12 is the centrifuging device with two filled drums inserted.

Fig. 13 shows a filled ampoule previous to the centrifuging, and Fig. 14 after the latter.

The fourth operation is illustrated in Fig. 15, which shows how the ampullae are wound off the filled up bearing strap, how their necks are closed by melting and how they are then filled into a semicircular drum.

Fig. 16 shows the view of a detail according to Fig. 15. I

Figs. 17-20 illustrate the fifth operation, viz.

Fig. 17 shows the top view of two filled semicircular drums, composed so as to form a full circle;

Fig. 13 shows a side view and partly a section of a couple of drums with their holder turned over;

Fig. 19 is a top view of the same;

Fig. 20. shows how the holder with the filled semi-circular drums is inserted into a closed boiling vessel- The sixth operation is illustrated in Figs. 211,24, viz:

Fig. 21 shows the side view and the front view oi'a drum that maybe closed;

Fig. 22 shows the side view and a part section otthe arrangement of the said drum over the conveying band, while, in connection with this,

Fig. 23 shows the top view of the conveying band;

Fig. 24 is a schematic illustration of the conveying device with its stamping contrivance and the delivery of the ready-made ampulae.

Fig. 25 represents the working diagram of the invention. i

Fig. 26 shows the packing device.

The empty ampullae are set byhand into a box guide rail 7 for receiving the empty arnpullae.

The band 6 is successively conveyed from the drum 8 over the guide drum 9, past the outlet 3, between the two other guide rollers 10 and 11 lying opposite each other, past the guide roller 12, through a cutting device described below, past another guide drum 13, and between two guide rollers 1% and 15 tothe drum 16. The latter drum is driven in any desired manner for wind ing up the bandfi, while the drum 8 is rotated by the tension of band 6 and is equipped with brakes. The band 6 bears separate pouches 17 (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8), which hold the ampullae 19 with their bottoms 18. In order to hinder the ampullae from falling out of the pouches 17, they are fitted, from the outlet 3, to a fixed guide 20, which is replaced by another band 21 at 22. The said band 21 is wound on" the empty drum 23 and runs from 22 together with the band 6 to the drum 16. In this manner the ampullae are secured between the two bands against ialling out of the pouches 17 during the whole course of working. But one band will suflice, provided that the ampullae are suitably fixed.

The above-mentioned cutting device 24 (Fig. 3) cuts the heads of the ampullae at 27 by means of its cutting edges 25, 26 under the influence of the springs 28, 29. Thence the ampullae pass to the striking-0E device 30 (Fig. 4) and come to lie with their necks before the fixed bow 31 serving for the impact. Opposite this bow is standng a beater 32. The latter is borne by an arm 34 pivoted at 33. A cam drum 35 gives the arm 34 a swinging movement of such a kind that the beater. 32 will break oh the cut ampullae necks towards the left over the bow 31. Thecutters 25, 26 are adjustable in their height. Accordingly, the striking-01f device may be adjusted as well. From here the ampullae cut off in the length required pass to the drum. 16.

Instead of holding the ampullae in the band 6 by means of the band 21 running along with it, there may be provided a fixed ledge, if necessary,

from 22 up to the drum16, in which event a single band will sufice.

Another form of the pouches 1'? of the band 6 is shown inFlgs. 7 and 85 According to Fig. i, clamps are fitted to the band 6, which resiliently contact the ampullae with their arms 36. The latter are conically bent outwards at their free ends, in such a manner that the ampullae may be inserted into the clamps by a slight pressure.

In accordance with the embodiment in Fig. 3 the ampullae are likewise slipped into clamps. Here the arms 36 are connected resiliently with the band 6 by means of the joints 37.

The band 6 filled with the ampullae rolled up on the drum 16 together with the guide band 21, constitutes the first operation.

Thereupon the filled drum 16 is placed into a vessel 38, for the second operation, in such a mannor that the ampullae are positioned with their necks 39 directed downwardly. The vessel 38 thus filled is now set into a container 40 that may be 156 hermetically closed. The liquid to be filled into the ampoules. is let into the container 40. By.

evacuating and re-admitting the normal pressure into the container the ampullae will be filled.

The necks of the ampullae thus filled remain filled with a portion of the liquid, which prevents them from being closed by melting, or will at least render this operation difllcult' (Fig. 13). By swinging the ampoules in an appropriate -cen-' trifugal machine or by evactuating in an upright position it is possible to empty at once the necks of the filled ampullae. For this purpose two filled drums l6 lying opposite each other are inserted into the box of a centrifugal device 41, in such a manner that the necks 39 of the ampullae will be directed toward the axis 42 of shaft 43 of the centrifugal device. The shaft 43 of the centrifugal'device should preferably be placed in an \uprlght position. By the centrifuging of the filled ampullae the neck 39 of each ampulla is being substantially freed from liquid. It may be desirable to leave small amounts of liquid in the neck as a seal as shown in Fig. 14.

The centrifuged ampullae are set up with their drum 16 on an axle 45 which may be turned in the table 44 (Fig. "15). The filled bands 6 and 21 are thus conveyed past the guide drums 46, 47 and 48 and then between two drums 49 and 50. The axles of the drums 49 and 50' hear at each of the two arms 51 and 52 the adjustable wire bows 53 and 54. The said wire bows are arranged in their height in such a way that the ampullae are passed between them with their necks. From here the band 6 is led to the drum .55 and the band 21 on the drum 56. The said two drums are driven in any desired manner in the direction of the two arrows. When separating the bands, the ampullae are keptwith their necks between the wire bows 53 and 54, which strips them from'the- 4 band 6 and they are thus bound to glide into anheats the ampullae necks passing through, and

the burner 62 with its fine pointed, but somewhat broadened flame closes by melting the necks of the ampullae passing by. In order to avoida detrimental effect of the liquid and the air on the closing process by melting owing to the warming, cold air is blown through a broadened nozzle 63 against the ampullae at the spot where their 1 necks start. The ampullae now closed by melting leave the guide 57 at 64 and are sliding, always in an upright'position, into the box 65. From the latter they are pushed by the hand or mechanically into a semicircular box mould 66, the sidewall of which is open at 67.

When two moulds 66 are packed with filled and closed ampullae, these two moulds are placed together as a couple, thus forming a circle (Fig. 17), and a holder 67 is laid 'over them. Thereupon the said holder 6'7 is turned upward with its handles 68, so that now the ampullae will stand with their necks on the bottom of this container (Fig. 19), and the-semicircular containers are removed, leaving I the ampullae standing in a downward direction in the holder 6'? with their necks closed by melting. In'this manner the ampullae are tested with'regard to. the seal of the necks simultaneously with the sterilization thereof. Ampullae with defective seals are emptied. For this purpose, as illustrated in (Fig. 21 and 22), the narrow side of which has at one spot an aperture that may be closed through .the slider '72. The drum '10 filled with ampullae is set with its aperture'll-on its edge over the hopper 73. Below the hopper '13 a conveying band 74 is passed by. Now, when the slider 72 leaves the aperture free, the ampullae will fall into the hopper 73 and thence on the conveying band '74. As may be seen from Fig. 23, apertures 75 are provided in the band at certain distances in conformity with the'length and breadth of the ampullae; Each time the ampullae will fall into these apertures andare held in the latter through bows fitted under the band.

The said bows are shaped in such a manner. that are located at such a depth in the apertures '75 that about one third of their circumference is projecting above the. surface of the band.

The band 74 now conveys the ampullae lying in the apertures below the stamping device 79 (Fig- 24). The rotary'stamp is moving in the reverse direction to the movement of the conveya ing band 74, so that the ampullae lying in the bows 76 and 7,7 can roll below the stamp 79 to be printed. At 80 the ampullae fall out of the vice 84, on which are placed pasteboard wrappings 83. .Thelatter may consist of the usual zig-z'ag shaped pasteboard strips, in the interspaces of which the ampullae are displaced througha shifting device 85 from the band 82 on to the band 84. The band 82 may be doubly provided, while the neck ends are lying opposite each other, so that the ampullae can simultaneously be inserted from both sides into the interspaces lying beside each other, the said shifting device 85 being arranged in such a manner that it will catch 12 ampullaeon one side and 13 ampullae on the other, so that 25 ampullae are inserted at the same time into each pa'steboardj wrapping. The arrangement may a1so be made in such away as to provide, on the conveying device 84, folding surfaces 86 that are capable of I swinging'round the joints 87. When a box of suitable dimensions is laid over the pasteboard' band-roll, means for winding each of. said coacting bands and means for removing said ampoules from said coacting bands. I

2.- In a process for filling, sealing and handling ampoules the steps which comprise passing a pluplacing "the said plurality of ampoules with their tops directed downwardly in contact with a filling liquid, filling said ampoules simultaneously by evacuating and admitting an inert gas to the filling liquid, centrifuging said plurality of ampoules, scaling the tops of the ampoules while moving them in an individually spaced row, and sterilizing them while in a position with their tops directed downwardly.

3. In an apparatus for filling and handling ampoules, a flat band-roll formed from a woundup sheet metal band, and resilient means for fastening the ampoules between the windings of the'band-roll.

4. In an apparatus for filling and handling ampoules, a band-roll formed from two flat :Wound-up .sheet metalbands, and resilient means for fastening the ampoul'es between the windings of these two bands.

5. In an apparatus for filling and handling ampoules, a flexible sheet metal band provided with means for retaining a plurality of ampoules, means for inserting ampoules in said retaining means, and means for winding said band, filled with ampoules, into a roll;

6. In an apparatus for filling and handling ampoules, a flexible sheet metal band provided with means for retaining a plurality of ampoules, means for inserting ampoules in. said retaining means, a second flexible sheet metal band cooperating with the first-named sheet metal band for firmly positioning saidampoules therebetween.

7. In an apparatus for filling and handling ampoules, a band-roll containing a plurality of ampoules, said band-roll comprising two coacting bands with said ampoules held therebetween, means for unwinding said band-roll,

means for winding each of said bands thereby opening said band-roll, and means for removing the ampo'ules from said coacting bands.

'8. In an apparatus for filling and handling ampoules, the combination of a sheet-metal band-roll holding the ampoules. between the windings thereof, means for automatically delivering the ampoules from the band-roll to a container, the said container comprising a hollow cylinder having on its edge an aperture of the size of one ampoule, out of which the ampoules can pass separately to fall on a conveying band.

9. A device for handling a plurality of am poules including a flexible sheet metal band, a plurality of resilient ampoule holding clips on said band, said band adapted to be wound in 11. In an apparatus for unwinding and winding a sheet metal band to form a band roll between the windings of which a plurality of ampoules are held, a winding means, an unwinding means, a flexible sheet metal band p0- sitioned between said winding and unwinding means, a plurality of resilient ampoule holding .means of said band, said holding means having an opening to one side to receive the ampoules, and a second sheet metal band co-acting with the first metal band to firmly hold the ampoules between said two bands.

WALTER SCHAEFFER.

spiral form for holding said ampoulesin said 

